Paris Launches World's First Electric Car Share Program

An anonymous reader writes "Yesterday Paris took a big step towards clean transportation as it launched the world's first electric car share program. Created by Vincent Bollore, the Autolib electric car-share is modeled off the city's popular bike share system, and it will be the largest program of its kind in the world. By December the program will include 250 electric vehicles, and it's planned to expand in 2012 if the first leg of the project is successful."

Could make sense

[l2718]

For short in-city trips electric vehicles are fairly efficient (especially with regenerative breaking). Moreover, these vehicles will have established parking spots where they can be efficiently charged. I can see this being a cost-effective alternative to taxis, and possibly to public transport (especially for several people at once). The question is what to do about them if they are driven until the battery is drained, which is not an issue for bicycles. If that becomes prevalent it will increase costs.

Re:Could make sense

[stephanruby]

The question is what to do about them if they are driven until the battery is drained, which is not an issue for bicycles. If that becomes prevalent it will increase costs.

Yep, it's like people driving a rented car until the fuel tank is completely empty, or like people returning a rented car with less fuel than the rental place asked them to return with. It does increase the cost, but it increases that cost only to the person who doesn't bother.

Shell game

[Anonymous Coward]

Clean how so?

It actually is less efficient to generate power far away, send it over the wire and charge that car than it is for it to be self powered.

All this does is move the pollution out of the sight of the privileged elites in the city.

All in the name of the religion of environmentalism.